Bad Boy

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks must face his most challenging and personal case yet. A distraught woman arrives at the Eastvale police station desperate to speak to Banks. Since he's away on holiday, his partner, Annie Cabbot, steps in. The woman tells Annie that she's found a loaded gun hidden in the bedroom of her daughter, Erin--a punishable offense under English law. When an armed response team breaks into the house to retrieve the weapon, the seemingly straightforward procedure quickly spirals out of control. But trouble is only beginning, for it turns out that Erin's best friend and roommate is none other than Tracy Banks, the DCI's daughter, who was last seen racing off to warn the owner of the gun, a very bad boy indeed. Now, Annie and Banks--a bit of a bad boy himself--must risk everything to outsmart a smooth and devious psychopath.--From publisher description.

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Bank's daughter, Tracey gets involved with a 'bad boy' (drugs, guns and more) while Banks is on holidays in America, trying to find himself again. The novel is full of tension as Tracy is taken hostage, DI Annie Cabott is seriously hurt , and there is a race to find the 'bad boy' Jaff McCready before he flees the country with Tracey.
A reasonably fast moving plot with a good ending and an enjoyable reading experience especially for fans of Banks.

For having such a smart, worldly father, the daughter displays some very poor judgement and immaturity. I really did not like her and felt no sympathy for her victimization. Not really worth the trouble of reading this book

This author writes in an interesting, convoluted way, but unfortunately, I found it dry and hard to follow. Probably for the same reason, although she is a renowned author, I cannot get into Agatha Christie...Maybe the style? Maybe too many threads? Maybe the English setting? There are very few books I haven't finished to the end, but this was one.

Cdnbookworm
Feb 17, 2012

Part of the series featuring DCI Alan Banks, this story also features his daughter Tracy, who makes some bad choices leading to truly dangerous situations. Alan is away in the U.S. on vacation as the story begins, and Tracy becomes involved with her roommate's boyfriend. As her roommate does something in anger that starts the whole plot in motion, Tracy is drawn to the 'bad boy' image of the young man Jaff. Tracy's choice to offer the use of her father's home as a refuge to Jaff leads to attempted murder, kidnapping, and a run from police. Alan returns from vacation to find his home a crime scene and his daughter missing. As he tries to balance his police responsibilities with his emotions, he takes some risks that are ill-advised.
We see quite a few of the interesting police characters here: DI Annie Cabot, Detective Superintendent Catherine Gervaise, DS Winsome Jackman, and a new one Constable Nerys Powell. We see into the decision-making process of the police, and the politics involved in that.
This case keeps growing bigger, from a small but serious situation of a firearm to kidnapping, murder, drugs and torture. This is a fast-moving novel that looks at the personal as well as the big picture to keep you turning the pages.

The latest outing for Inspector Banks involves Annie Cabot who is covering for him while he's on vacation. Returning from vacation the action takes Alan very close to home as he aims to save his daughter.

JAMESG
Feb 03, 2011

Excellent Police procedural book. If you're into British novelists this one should not be missed.

I love Peter Robinson and enjoyed this book, but it is certainly not the best Inspector Banks mystery. Allan is getting older, and the mistakes he made as a father are coming back to haunt him. You get a clear sense in this story of just how bad at long-term relationships Banks is, and there are moments where it is hard to believe that someone who is such an instinctual detective can be so clueless when it comes to family and lovers.
The plot is interesting, but there seemed to be a lot of threads left hanging at the end. Perhaps there is a second installment in the works. I may go back and reread some of the earlier titles!